Three charged after pro-Palestine protesters hang ‘stop the killing’ banner outside Starmer’s home

Three pro-Palestine protesters who staged a demonstration outside Sir Keir Starmer’s London home have been charged with public order offences.

The group, known as Youth Demand, called on the Labour leader to support an arms embargo on Israel.

The demonstrators hung a banner that read “Starmer stop the killing” surrounded by red hand prints, while rows of children’s shoes were placed in front of his front door.

The Metropolitan Police carried out the arrests in Kentish Town on Tuesday under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, a power designed to “stop the harassment of a person at their home address”.

In a video posted to X, formerly Twitter, Youth Demand called for a two-way arms embargo on Israel, saying that weapons manufactured in the UK were being “used to cause genocide”.

Children’s shoes were placed outside his front doorstep to represent the children killed in Gaza (Youth Demand/PA Wire)

Following the protest, the group were condemned by a number of political figures, including Rishi Sunak, who was previously the target of climate protesters in 2023.

In a post to X the prime minister said: “I don’t care what your politics are, no MP should be harassed at their own home.

“We cannot and will not tolerate this.”

Home secretary James Cleverly also posted to X, saying: “This is unacceptable. There is no excuse for harassing and intimidating politicians and their families in their homes.”

The Government has been under increasing pressure to publish legal advice it has received in relation to whether Israel is violating international humanitarian law in Gaza, after three British aid workers were killed by Israeli air strikes in the region.

Sir Keir has called for the Government to publish the advice, with the party’s shadow foreign secretary David Lammy stating arms sales should be halted if there has been a “serious breach” of international law.

A Metropolitan Police statement said: “Two women and a man arrested in Kentish Town on Tuesday April 9 have been charged with public order offences and will appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court.

“Leonorah Ward, 21, of Beechwood Mount, Burley, Leeds, Zosia Lewis, 23, of Rokeby Terrace, Newcastle upon Tyne and Daniel Formentin, 24, of Woodside Avenue, Burley, Leeds, will appear before the court on Wednesday, April 10.

“All have been charged with section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001 and for breaching court bail.

“The arrests were made on Tuesday, April 9 under section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

“This power stops the harassment of a person at their home address if an officer suspects it is causing alarm or distress to the occupant.”

More follows on this breaking news story

From news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.